Obesity is the problem of children, adolescents and the elderly because it is a problem that affects all ages. Obesity leads to many metabolic disorders diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, angina, depression, indigestion and arthritis. There were several studies and reviews presented on the treatment modality in literature for obesity. But there are no comprehensive reviews on anti-obesity drugs till date. In the present review, we are presenting the pharmacological management of obesity. The literature search carried out using electronic search engines through PubMed, Biological Abstracts, BIOSIS PREVIEWS, Current Contents® /Clinical Medicine, Current Contents® /Life Sciences, EBSCO, ScienceDirect, Ingenta, Springer, Wiley Interscience, J-STAGE, Google scholar and Scifinder from 1990 to September 2013. Based on this search, we are presenting a brief review on pharmacological management of obesity, with a focus on the drugs used in the past, present and future. From this search, it is revealed that some of the drugs approved earlier for treating obesity were withdrawn from the market (Phentermine, Dexfenfluramine, Fenfluramine and Sibutramine). Some of the older drugs are introduced in combination form (Phentermine + Topiramate (Qnexa), Empatic, Concave). Most of the adrenergic and serotonergic drugs possesses adverse effects like increasing heart rate and hypertension. Similarly, some new drugs came into the market for treating obesity (Lorcaserin, Orlistat,) and few are in clinical trials in different phases of drug development (APD-365, CD-945,598, MK-0364, ATL-962, GT-389-255, AOD9604, Leptin, Peptide3-36, obinepitide and TM30338). The drugs that are under clinical trials were subjected for evaluating the safety and efficacy. We have to see in the future how many of these drugs are going to be available for treating obesity.

Background: Childhood obesity is one of the most serious health challenges of the 21st century. The problem is global and the prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among Saudi primary school students in AlAbnaa primary schools in Tabuk. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among primary schools students in AlAbnaa Schools in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Sampling frame included all genders. In the first stage, a sample of four primary schools had been selected using simple random technique-two primary school for boys and two for girls. In the second stage, stratified sampling technique had been used. The data was collected through a self-administered validated questionnaire. Height and weight of the subjects were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Recently published 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts which depended on data from widely different ethnic backgrounds and cultural settings were used for defining overweight and obesity among students. Results: A total of 331 out of the target study subjects of 350 responded to the survey giving a response rate of 94.6%. Age of the respondents ranged from 6-13 years old and the mean age was 9.7 ± 2.1 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among male primary school students were 7.3% and 17.4%, respectively while the prevalence among female students were 12.4% and 20.9%, respectively. Overweight and obesity were more prevalent among student living with both parents (P = 0.031), with highly educated parents (P = 0.008), with history of maternal obesity (P = 0.001), with working mothers (P = 0.024), and with smaller family size (P = 0.004). Conclusion: The results of the current study provide alarming evidence-based data on the considerable prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity among Saudi primary school children in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Objective: The aim was to assess the sexual functions and satisfaction among obese women. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among 176 married women from Aladag region, Turkey in 2010. Grade of obesity was assessed by body mass index (BMI) and waist/hip ratio, while sexual satisfaction was assessed by Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). Results: The average score of GRISS scale is 47.35 ΁ 5.83. A significant correlation has been discovered between BMIs and GRISS total scores of the women (r = 0.339, P = 0.000). GRISS, strongly correlated with high BMI in women. Furthermore, there is a significant correlation between the sub-scales of GRISS. There was a strong and inverse correlation between BMI and communication (r = −0.148, P = 0.005), satisfaction (r = −0.382, P = 0.000) and positive correlation avoidance (r = 0.406, P = 0.000) and BMI. Conclusion: This study revealed that women with high BMI showed less sexual satisfaction, which requires further studies in this regard.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) is one feature of obese patients with type 2 diabetes and associated with a clustering of metabolic abnormalities. Obesity perse is one component of a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that included the hyperinsulinemia. Objectives: This study aims to assess the status of IR in obese nondiabetic subjects using HOME-IR index and demonstrate the therapeutic effect of metformin as an insulin sensitizer. Materials and Methods: A total number of 76 out of 97 obese male completed the study. The subjects assigned to receive a single-dose of metformin (850 mg/daily) for 3 months. Anthropometric measurements and the following biochemical tests were carried on before and after treatment: Fasting serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and fasting serum insulin. The basal metabolic rate (BMR), HOMA-IR, and insulin sensitivity (IS) were calculated using a specific formula. Results: Metformin therapy resulted in a significant decrease in body mass index of obese subjects. This effect is associated with significant decrease BMR. Significant decrease HOMA-IR observed in Classes I and II obesity (62.95% and 65.13%, respectively) and to a lesser extent in Class III (72.48%). Significant improvement in glycosylated hemoglobin was observed in Classes I and II obesity. HOMA-IR index is significantly correlated with glycosylated hemoglobin before and after treatment. Conclusions: Metformin improves IS in nondiabetic obese men besides its favorable effect in reducing the body weight.

Objectives: The present study was taken up with the aim of investigating the effect of obesity and underweight on the occurrence of vocal mutation in adolescent boys. Materials and Methods: The study followed a cross-sectional study design. Ninety male participants in the age range of 14-17 years were classified into three groups based on the body mass index (BMI) which include underweight, normal weight, overweight/obese. Praat software (version 5.1.43) was used for the analysis of voice samples and speaking fundamental frequency was extracted from all the samples. Results: The results of the present study revealed significant main effect of the group (F = 5.732; P < 0.05). Results of post hoc analysis revealed that there was a significant difference between all the three groups at P < 0.05. Conclusion: The present study investigated the effect of BMI values on the occurrence of vocal mutation in the age range of 14-17 years in adolescent boys. The results revealed that obesity and underweight caused delay in the attainment of vocal mutation in the male adolescents. Hence, the present study does not favor the critical weight hypothesis at least in the vocal mutation in the Indian male adolescents.